Yummy Microwave Meatloaf

Several years ago, when I first moved into my own house, one of my best friends gave me a cook book of her favorite recipes. I use many of them, but one in particular has become a family favorite....Microwave Meatloaf. We LOVE meatloaf, but when I was working I rarely thought to make it in enough time to bake for 45 min to an hour! So, imagine my thrill when I discovered that I could make our fave dish in under 30 minutes! And on top of all that, it's really YUMMY, too! So I thought I'd share it with you all...

Microwave Meatloaf

Ingredients:

1.5 lb ground beef
1/2 cup Italian bread crumbs
1 egg, beaten
3/4 cup milk
1/4 cup chopped onion
1.5 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1/2 cup your favorite BBQ sauce or ketchup


Combine first seven ingredients and mix well. Pack mixture
into a 2-quart microwavable dish. Microwave on high for
5 minutes then cover with BBQ sauce or ketchup. Cover and
cook another 15 minutes
or until done. Enjoy!

I know it's Tuesday, but just to prove that I really DID do a menu this week (and so Hubby knows what to expect this week), here's our menu for the upcoming week:

Monday--Microwave Meatloaf, mashed potatoes, green beans
Tuesday--Some sort of takeout since we are having our furnace replaced and the water has been off all day!
Wednesday--Sloppy joes, sliced baked potatoes, salad
Thursday--Slow Cooker Turkey, sweet potatoes, rolls
Friday--FAMILY NIGHT OUT!!!
Saturday--Spinach Artichoke Pizza with salad
Sunday--Cook's Day Off


If you would like any of the other recipes, just let me know. I'd be happy to post them!

Menu Plan Monday

I have some bad news...my Beef Sour Cream Noodle Bake from last week turned out rather...bland. I mentioned it was a new recipe and promised to post it if anyone was interested. There was some interest in the recipe, but I'm afraid it was so disappointing, I just can't (in good conscience) pass it along. The good news is that I realized (as I was making it) that I already have a similar recipe that I really like. (Sometimes it takes me a while!) So, I'll post that one soon.

With birthday celebrations last week and Hubby working all weekend, we didn't get to a couple of the meal plans from last week. That made this week's menu so much easier! ;)

Monday--No Peek Chicken, green beans, french rolls (I found the link...yea!!)

Tuesday--Italian-baked tilapia with garlic-tomato pasta

Wednesday--Teriyaki-grilled pork tenderloins with Asian noodles/veggie stir-fry

Thursday--Leftover buffet

Friday--FAMILY NIGHT OUT!!

Saturday--Grilled Tri-tip, mashed potatoes, steamed veggies

Sunday--Mama's kitchen is closed!

For lots more menu ideas, head on over to Org Junkie or check out the menu plans at newly-renovated Blissfully Domestic.

********I don't know why there are no hard-returns...I can't get them to
stay once I publish. I apologize for the run-on post!*******

Menu Plan Monday

Well, Monday is almost over, but I'm finally getting my menu plan up. For more (and I do mean LOTS MORE) menu ideas head on over to Org Junkie...she's the brains behind it all!)

Monday: Homemade Sloppy Joes (recipe to follow), Baked Potato Slices, and corn on the cob

Tuesday: Beef Sour Cream Noodle Bake (new recipe...if you're interested I'll post it), salad, French rolls

Wednesday: No Peek Chicken (found the recipe at Blissfully Domestic, but can't find it now to link to it...sorry! I'll post it if you're interested), greens beans, garlic bread

Thursday: Leftover buffet

Friday: Family Night Out

Saturday: Grilled Tri-tip, baked potatoes, salad, rolls

Sunday: Every man for himself!

Homemade Sloppy Joes

(from Weight Watchers)

1 lb. diet lean hamburger
1/4 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup ketchup
3 T. barbecue sauce
1 T. Mustard
1 T. Vinegar
1 1/2 tsp. Worcestershire Sauce
1/4 tsp. pepper
6 hamburger buns

Brown hamburger & onion.
Add next 7 ingredients & simmer for 15 minutes.
Serve on buns.

Makes 6 servings

_____________________________________________

I also forgot to post the recipe for my slow cooker pulled pork from the birthday party last week, so here it is:

“Party” Pulled Pork

3lbs pork shoulder/butt (It doesn’t have to be a really good piece of pork since it’s just for sandwiches)

1 can Mexican style diced tomatoes

1-2tsp of chili powder

Combine ingredients in slow cooker. Cook on low 8-10 hrs. Add to buns (can also add BBQ sauce and cheese if desired).

So easy and so good! Enjoy!

Menu Plan Monday

This is a pretty easy week as we've had a hectic schedule lately, and we're having a birthday party today. Here's what we've got planned for our menu this week.

Monday--Birthday Party!! (Slow cooker pulled pork sandwiches, potato salad, veggies & dip, chips and, of course, cake and ice cream!) The pulled pork is a new recipe...if it turns out well, I'll post the recipe later this week.

Tuesday--Pot roast (in the slow cooker) with potatoes and carrots, salad, rolls

Wednesday--5-Minute Southwest Salad (thanks to Org Junkie for the recipe!)

Thursday--Leftover Buffet

Friday--Family Night Out!!

Saturday--Grilled brats w/buns, french fries, veggies with dip

Sunday--Mama's Day off...every man for himself!

For more great menu ideas, head on over to I'm an Org Junkie.

Have a great Labor Day holiday!

Menu Plan Monday

With all the sicknesses going on, we didn't get to two of the meals from last week, which made this week's menu planning a snap!

Monday: Farmer's Casserole (thanks Lora, it was delicious!), cheese biscuits, fresh fruit

Tuesday: Grilled burgers, french fries, corn on the cob (on the grill, of course!)

Wednesday: Tex Mex Tilapia, Spanish rice, salad

Thursday: Leftovers (we never eat a whole recipe's worth of anything!)

Friday: Family Night Out!!

Saturday: Homemade sloppy joes and veggies with dip (will post recipe later)

Sunday: Every man for himself...cause mama don't cook on Sundays!

For more great menu ideas, check out I'm and Organizing Junkie!

Menu Plan Monday

Short and sweet, here it is...

Monday: Italian baked chicken (chicken breast marinated in Italian dressing, then baked), pasta salad, green beans & carrots

Tuesday: Baked mostacolli, salad, garlic bread,

Wednesday: Farmer's Casserole (see recipe at My Blessed Life here), fruit salad

Thursday: Tex Mex Tilapia (see recipe here), Spanish rice, salad

Friday: Family Night Out

Saturday: Grilled brats w/buns, veggies & dip

Sunday: Whatever you can find in the fridge!

Menu Plan Monday

Better late than never, I suppose...

Monday: Tacos
Tuesday: Brinner (Breakfast for dinner)--bacon, eggs, biscuits
Wednesday: Slow Cooker Pork Chops (link to recipe here)
Thursday: BLT sandwiches (with leftover bacon) and pasta salad
Friday: Family Night Out
Saturday: Something on the grill...still trying to figure this one out.

For more menu plans and recipe ideas, head on over to Org Junkie.

Menu Plan Monday and Fun Project

I wanted to share this Weekly Planner project I did with Little Miss this morning. It's great for preschoolers. She's just starting to learn the different days of the week and the fact that we do certain things on certain days. (For example, church is on Sunday, Daddy is home from work on Sat., etc.) Since we don't have a lot of recurring activities over the summer (lessons, preschool, etc.) we used our weekly routines (shopping, laundry, etc.). And since I didn't have any post-it notes on hand, I cut small scraps of paper and we taped them on. When we have something special coming up (like a visit from grandparents or a birthday party), I'll print a picture of the person to put on the day. Then we can count down to the special day. For more great, educational projects, visit PBSParents.org.

Do you have any special educational projects you like to do with your kids? Or any great resources for project ideas? I'd love to hear them!



Also, here is my Menu Plan for this Monday. For more great menus (and recipes), head on over to Org Junkie...there are hundreds to choose from!

Monday: Chicken Fried Rice and Asian Steamed Vegetables
Tuesday: Pot roast with potatoes and carrots (putting the slow cooker to use again!)
Wednesday: Spaghetti with meat sauce, salad, and garlic bread
Thursday: Leftover night
Friday: Family Night Out
Saturday: Grilled Tri-Tip, Pasta Salad and fresh veggies
Sunday: anything you can find in the fridge!

(Sorry no recipes or links this week...it's been a crazy weekend and will be a crazy week, so I'm doing a lot of "from the box" dinners and "off the top of my head" meals...thus, no written recipes. I hope to contribute more next time around!)

Mondays in the Blogosphere

I've discovered there's a lot going on in the blogosphere on Mondays. While I'm doing well to get my brood up, dressed, and fed, some of my fellow bloggers are already getting a jump on things. In case you're new to the world of blogging (I still am), I thought I'd point you toward some bloggers who are "up and rarin' to go on this Monday morning":

Two of my favorite bloggers over at Kickin' It In Crazyville have started a new Friendship Hall of Fame every Monday. Each week they honor a friend of the many nominated by bloggers everywhere. So, if you have a special friend you'd like to nominate, head on over and submit his/her name. I'm sure your friend will greatly appreciate it!

Also, Org Junkie has Menu Plan Monday every week where you'll find lots (and I do mean LOTS) of great menu plans and recipes (my favorite part!). So, if you're menu-planning-challenged (as I am), head on over and glean from the creativity of others! And, if you're interested, here's my Menu Plan Monday:


Monday: Homemade pizzas (with my favorite pizza crust recipe listed below) and salad

Tuesday: Pork roast (in the slow cooker) with seasoned rice and steamed veggies

Wednesday: BBQ Pork sandwiches (made from the leftover pork roast), french fries, fresh corn on the cob

Thursday: Leftover night (any combination of leftovers from the fridge)

Friday: Family Night Out

Saturday: Breakfast for dinner (bacon, scrambled eggs, biscuits, and fruit

Amish Pizza Crust

(My mom made this all the time when we were growing up...

she got the recipe from an old amish cookbook years ago).

Combine:

1 cup warm water

1 pkg yeast

When dissolved add:

1 large tablespoon sugar

1 1/2 tsp salt

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

1 1/4 cup flour

Beat until smooth and add:

2 cups flour, or enough to make stiff (I substitute up to have with whole wheat flour)

Knead until elastic (about 5 min). Place in greased bowl and let rise until it doubles in size (about 45 min). Form 2 balls, pat and stretch to fill 2 greased pizza pans. Let rise another 10 min. Add pizza sauce and your favorite toppings. Bake @ 450 degrees for 20-25 min until crust is golden.

If you do not need to make 2 pizzas, you can freeze one crust. After I spread it on the pizza pan and let it rise again. I move it to a sheet of cling wrap, place another on top, then roll the crust and place it in the freezer. Let thaw completely, then add toppings and bake.

Do you know any other secrets to freezing pizza dough (or any other kind of dough, for that matter)?

Menu Plan Monday

OK, here is my first attempt at "public" Menu Plan Monday (and yes, I did it for the free giveaway...keeping my fingers crossed!) Anyway, here's what our menu looks like this week:

Monday:

Rotisserie chicken (from the grocery deli as I need to go grocery shopping this afternoon)

Pasta salad (from a box)

Green beans (from a can)

*It was a crazy weekend and I haven't been shopping yet, so keeping it easy today!

Tuesday:

Lasagna (frozen from a couple of weeks ago)

Salad

Garlic toast

Wednesday:

Chicken Divan (recipe below)--recipe from my friend Jill, haven't tried it yet, but I'm sure we'll love it!

Vegetable medley

Thursday (breakfast for dinner):

Egg and sausage casserole (click here for recipe)

Fresh fruit

Toast

Friday:

Family night (which means dinner out!)

Saturday:

Grilled hamburgers with buns

Corn on the cob (on the grill, of course!)

Cucumber and blue cheese salad (click here for recipe)

Sunday:

Eat out after church, then whatever you can find for dinner!

Chicken Divan
2 pkgs. frozen broccoli, cooked

pieces of cooked chicken (whole chicken, deboned, or 4 chicken breasts)

2 cans cream of chicken soup (mix 1/2 c. milk with soup to thin)

1 c. shredded cheddar cheese

Layer the above and bake at 425 for 15 minutes.

Burgers and Fries Remix

I am not an official participant of Org Junkie's Menu Plan Monday (for more info, click here)...not yet at least. (And yes, I know it's already Wednesday). But MPM has inspired me to put forth a more concentrated effort in menu planning. So I dusted off a few of my cook books, and I'm rediscovering some old favorites.

Today was one of the first "warmish" days so far this Spring (if you can call what we've been having "spring"), so I fired up the grill and did a variation on the ol' burger and fries (a healthier variation at that...much to my hubby's chagrin. But he said he liked it.) I thought I'd post a couple of the recipes here in the hopes that you enjoy a good recipe discovery as much as I do.

Southwest Turkey Burgers
2 lb ground turkey
1 pkg taco seasoning
1 pkg ranch dressing mix
1/2 tsp ground black pepper
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1 1/2 Tbsp soy sauce
1 egg, lightly beaten

Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and mix well. Refrigerate the mixture 10 minutes, then form into 8 patties. Preheat grill for medium-high heat. Lightly oil the grill grate. Place the patties on the grill. Cook for 20 minutes, turning once, or until well done. The inside of the burgers will look whitish when cooked through.

Seasoned Sweet Potato Fries
4 sweet potatoes, cut into large fries
1 Tblsp water
2 tsp Italian seasoning
1/2 tsp lemon pepper
2 Tblsp olive oil
salt and pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Place cut sweet potatoes in a microwave-safe dish with water. Microwave on high for 5 minutes, then drain. Toss with Italian seasoning, lemon pepper, salt, pepper, and olive oil. Spread fries in a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake for 30 minutes, turning once, or until fries are crispy on the outside.

Hope you enjoy!